Hi Peggy. You're a verified AvantGuild member! For Employers [ Your Account | Log out ] Home Courses Jobs Post a Job Edit Your Jobs Pricing Info Freelance Marketplace Events Forums Content Recently... TV On Your Handheld TV on your cellphone will be here within the year, but will it stay? How to Pitch: Body+Soul The pub for readers in search of "balanced and authentic lives" needs writers with a similar style. Video Pitch Slam 1-on-1: Your Chance at Ladies Home Journal Enter for an opportunity to sell editor Diane Salvatore on your idea! Pitching an Agent: 'Willing to Help Guide Authors' Careers' This agent's desire to develop his client list means he may be eager to represent your interesting narrative nonfiction, and he'll collaborate to aid new authors whose proposals need polish. What I Learned About Freelancing as an Editor-in-Chief From knowing your audience to respecting wordcounts, an expert editor and freelancer tells what he's learned in the former position that helps in the latter. How To Find Investors For Your Awful Film Follow these seven steps, and sucker investors will fund your terrible film. How to Pitch: FamilyFun A well-paying, Disney-owned mag, this monthly takes pieces covering crafts to vacation Member Benefits mb offers Back to Home > Content > How to Pitch: Body+Soul Mail Print member benefit How to Pitch: Body+Soul Help readers "enhance their lives in a satisfying way," and you'll find your bank account enhanced, thanks to this mag's sweet pay scale By Peggy Bourjaily – March 1, 2007 Circulation: 384,000 Frequency: 8 issues annually; The magazine publishes double issues in January/February, April/May, July/August and November/December Special issues: None Background: Formerly New Age Journal, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia purchased Body+Soul in 2005. The magazine's mission is "to encourage and inspire people to lead balanced and authentic lives; to find new and innovative ways to support their values, and take care of themselves and the planet," senior editor Hillary Geronemus says. discounted LexisNexis access Only mediabistro.com offers freelancers the opportunity to purchase their own personal LexisNexis accounts at a deep discount. learn more nyc course food writing Body+Soul's readership primarily consists of college-educated women between 25 and 55 years old. The reader profile is based on psychographic, or psychological factors, rather than demographic ones. "Our readers are conscious of their purchases, aiming for organic and natural products," Geronemus notes. "They are actively engaged in their health, they care about leading a sustainable and healthy lifestyle, and they're looking for ways to enhance their lives in a satisfying way." Food & Wine executive editor Pamela Kaufman can help you build a portfolio full of food-related stories that editors will publish. learn more The environment is close to the hearts of the magazine's readers, so it's a central theme in Body+Soul. Geronemus stresses that the importance of the environment and whole health "go hand in hand. I think the readers who are interested in their own well being are also very interested in supporting the environment and making more conscious choices in their lives." nyc seminar What to pitch: Body+Soul is organized into six main sections: RELATED: "Green Living," "Rejuvenate," "Eat All "How to Pitch" Features Well," "Balanced Fitness," "Whole Health," and "Inner Growth." There are four or five, 1500- to 3000-word features, and approximately six shorter articles (250 to 1200 words) open to freelancers in each issue. Geronemus and her fellow editors see pitches as an introduction to the writer. She drawing gag cartoons Learn how to create single-panel cartoons from a cartoonist published in The New Yorker. learn more spots, and everything else in the Magic Kingdom of parenting. indicates that, if the writer makes a good impression, they might assign a story different than the original pitch. Geronemus uses "the pitch to see what kind of writer the person is, and what their thought process is in developing the story." A writer needs to be able to break down a story. "Show flexibility, knowledge of the topic, and know who the leading sources and experts are that are a good fit for Body+Soul, and put that together in a well thought out pitch," she says. A pitch needs to be about more than just the idea at hand. The editors want a writer to think about and offer ideas for sidebars. The editors are always looking for new angles and news hooks on broader topics. Being specific in the pitch, but broader in the topic, is an important distinction for Geronemus. A recent pitch that Body+Soul's health editor Tania Hannan showed Geronemus demonstrates what they are seeking. "It was broken down into very specific details: 'This is what the story will cover;' 'This is a good idea for the sidebar;' 'These are the things I would ask;' 'These are the people I would talk to.' Be very specific as far as how the story would work, but not too specific as far as the topic. For example, we wouldn't want a story idea on toe fungus, but we would want a story that offers a new take on heart health," Geronemus explains. Model pitches after stories that have appeared in the magazine. A great place to start out, especially if you are a new freelancer, is the front-of-book "Whole Living" section. Geronemus says this five to seven page section contains "the smaller news items that show you understand what the magazine is all about. [Your pitch] has to have a really strong reason for being there." Look for "trends in the world of what we do, great and innovative tips for living a healthier and more balanced life, and interesting people, the movers and shakers of the industry, to profile," she says. What not to pitch: Geronemus discourages pitching the "Eat Well" section because it focuses on generally familiar foods, and the recipes are all created by the magazine staff. "It's hard for someone to pitch me onions or strawberries, because I already know that they are good for you," Geronemus says. She also advises freelancers to avoid the "Rejuvenate" section unless you really "have your pulse on the natural beauty world. Most of those stories are done by our beauty editor." Another no-no is personal growth stories unless, Geronemus stresses, it's framed "as a way into a broader topic. Don't pitch the super specific topics that only reach out to 1 percent of our readers." Recent freelance stories pitched and published: Recently, two travel pitches made the cut. The first, coming in April 2007, features urban green hotels. The second, on newsstands in June, focuses on river vacations that help readers "gain a greater perspective on life, go with the flow, and let life unfold." Etiquette: Either email or snail mail with three published clips attached is the way to go. The editors are super busy, so follow up, but not too aggressively. As one of Geronemus' colleagues says, "Be a squeaky wheel, but not too squeaky." Lead time: Eight to nine months Pay rate: $1-1.50, depends on the story and writer experience Payment schedule: On acceptance Kill fee: 20 percent Rights purchased: Body+Soul owns exclusive rights Contact info: Body+Soul magazine 42 Pleasant Street Watertown, MA 02472 www.bodyandsoulmag.com [email protected] For "Health," deputy editor, Health Tania Hannan: [email protected] For "Travel," "Spa," "Food" and "Whole Living," senior editor Hillary Geronemus: [email protected] For "Inner Growth" and "Fitness," associate editor Terri Trespicio: [email protected] For "Green Living," assistant editor Josie Garthwaite: [email protected] nyc course establish your photo career Turn your photo portfolio into a career. Learn how from SVA instructor and veteran photographer Malcolm Lightner. learn more. nyc course nonfiction book proposals Publish your nonfiction book! Write a book proposal that will successfully sell your manuscript to editors and agents. learn more nyc course screenwriting Start and finish your screenplay in just 3 months with NYU Film School instructor D.B. Gilles! learn more > Post a reply > Have a comment? Send a letter to the editor. > Read more in our archives Tell Us What You Think No comments have been added to this thread yet. > Post a reply Home l Site Map l Help l Advertising/Sponsorships l Store l About Us mediabistro.com inc., call (212) 929-2588 or email us PRIVACY POLICY Copyright © 2007 mediabistro.com inc. All rights reserved. MEDIA BISTRO is a registered trademark of Laurel Touby. Member Benefits l Jobs l Freelance Marketplace l Courses l Events l Forums l Content